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Clarksburg, West Virginia
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Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 16,743 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area. Clarksburg is a cultural center of North Central West Virginia and hosts many events and festivals. Since 1979 Clarksburg has hosted the annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival held during Labor Day weekend. Every September since 1991 the city has been the site of the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival.
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Encyclopedia
Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 16,743 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area. Clarksburg is a cultural center of North Central West Virginia and hosts many events and festivals. Since 1979 Clarksburg has hosted the annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival held during Labor Day weekend. Every September since 1991 the city has been the site of the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival. Since 2006 Clarksburg has hosted the annual Glen Elk Wine, Music and Arts festival, and Jesusfest. Since 1997 Clarksburg has also hosted the Cecil Jarvis Greater Clarksburg 10K, the official WV 10K State Championship.
Geography
Clarksburg is located at (39.283401, -80.336906), along the West Fork River and Elk Creek.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.5 square miles (24.7 kmē), all of it land.
Clarksburg is located in West Virginia's North-Central region.
Clarksburg is the home to the FBI's National Finger Print Identification and Storage Center.
Highways
Clarksburg is at the crossroads of U.S. Route 50 (Corridor D), the main arterial route for Clarksburg, and Interstate 79. Other major highways include West Virginia Route 20, West Virginia Route 58, U.S. Route 19, and West Virginia Route 98.
Interstates
U.S.
- U.S. Highway 50
- U.S. Highway 19
- U.S. Highway 119
- U.S. Highway 250
WV
- West Virginia Route 20
- West Virginia Route 58
- West Virginia Route 57
Landmarks
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,743 people, 7,447 households, and 4,378 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,758.3 people per square mile (679.0/kmē). There were 8,662 housing units at an average density of 909.7/sq mi (351.3/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 93.86% White, 3.83% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino were 1.06% of the population.
There were 7,447 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,722, and the median income for a family was $35,075. Males had a median income of $30,194 versus $22,388 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,587. About 14.8% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy and Industry
During most of the 20th century, Clarksburg was an industrial and manufacturing center, particularly in the glass industry. The coal industry also played a major role in the first half of the 20th century.
Since 1995, Clarksburg has been the location of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, the largest division of the FBI. The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a national fingerprint and criminal history system, became operational in July 1999 at the division's complex. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System, used to screen individuals attempting to receive a firearm, is operated from the facility.
Clarksburg is home to Eastpointe and Newpointe, the largest strip mall in West Virginia, adjacent to Interstate 79. Most of Clarksburg's retail has relocated to the strip malls, and downtown is now home to many professional services.
History
- John Simpson camped here in 1764. He was the first white man in the area.
- The Northwestern Turnpike, chartered in 1827, and begun in 1831, reached Clarksburg in 1836 and was macadamized from the Tygarts Valley River to Parkersburg in 1848.
- In 1840 there was an established daily line of stages and a regular mail service which made connection with Ohio River steamers at Parkersburg.
- The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad reached Clarksburg from Grafton in 1856.
- During the Civil War, it served as a supply depot of the Union Army from 1861 to 1865. General George B. McClellan had his headquarters here in 1861 until the Battle of Bull Run.
- The historic district of Clarksburg is mainly outlined by Hewes Avenue on the north, Main Street on the south, Chestnut Street on the west, and E. B. Saunders Way [formerly Water Street] on the east.
- On October 11, 1996, seven men having connections with the Mountaineer Militia, a local anti-government paramilitary group, were arrested on charges of plotting to blow up the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division complex in Clarksburg. While members of the group had been assembling large quantities of explosives and blasting caps, militia leader Floyd Raymond Looker obtained blueprints of the FBI facility from a Clarksburg firefighter. Plastic explosives were confiscated by law enforcement officials at five locations in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Looker was taken into custody after arranging to sell the blueprints for $50,000 to an undercover FBI agent, whom he believed to be a representative of an international terrorist group. In 1998 Looker was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Two other defendants were sentenced on explosives charges, and the firefighter drew a year in prison for providing blueprints.
Notable natives and residents
- Hugh Aynesworth Author and journalist
- Rex Bumgardner: professional football player, Buffalo Bills (1948-1949) and Cleveland Browns (1950-1952)
- Phyllis Curtin: opera soprano
- John W. Davis: Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States in 1924
- Jimbo Fisher: American college coach and former player who was the NCAA Division III National Player of the Year as a senior. He served as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach for the LSU Tigers football team from 2000-2006 and is currently the Offensive Coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles football team.
- Mike Florio: Editor, Profootballtalk.com
- Nathan Goff, Jr.: congressman and United States Secretary of the Navy
- Lynn Hornor: Represented West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives
- Stonewall Jackson: Confederate lieutenant-general during the American Civil War
- Louis A. Johnson, United States Secretary of Defense
- Tuffy Knight: retired as the winningest coach in Canadian university football history
- Pare Lorentz: film director
- Frank Loria: Virginia Tech Hokies football All American player. He later died in the Southern Airlines Flight 932 airplane crash, that killed most of Marshall University's football team, on November 14, 1970.
- Lloyd Lowndes, Jr.: Governor of Maryland
- Frank Marra: businessman, engineer, chairman of The Plastics Academy, received International Award for Business Management from Society of Plastics Engineers and Distinguished Service Award from the Society of the Plastics Industry
- Mike Patrick: ESPN sportscaster
- Stuart F. Reed: politician who represented West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives
- Cyrus Vance: United States Secretary of State
- Patty Weaver: actress, The Young and the Restless (1982-present), Days of our Lives (1974-1982)
- Kirsten Wyatt: Broadway actress, Grease (2007-present)
External links
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